Practice Report From The Asset: Kool-aid Edition

thanks

Gone way past kool-aid and now elevated to purple drank of a post. Keep it flowing.

I would think the practice intensity is also a function of the longer break. You get 12 practices, right? You can go a bit harder the first half of them without worrying about getting dinged up.

In regards to showing people the door: I’m fine with moving on if a kid isn’t putting all his effort in to things. However, are we going to also push out the kids that are giving max effort, but just aren’t talented enough? I’m not fine with that. Effort is on the kid. Evaluation is on the staff. If we offer a kid because of what we perceive his talent to be, he gives every thing he has, and his talent just isn’t there, then that is the coaching staff’s fault. I’m not saying he should be starting or get a 5th year just because, but they shouldn’t be forced to leave the program.

That doesn’t seem to be the case with White and the Dtackle (can’t remember the name) so far at least.

Great to hear about Ash. Hopefully he can slowly put it all back together and be the game manager we need. The boots and roll outs are exactly what he needs. To me it makes sense, because if he doesn’t see an open target, he can tuck and run to gain yardage.

‘fun and violent’ The way Texas football should be.
Can’t wait to see this defense next year.

ut-06, that’s not happening. But you better be giving max effort regardless of playing time.

Thanks as always JS. I reread last years’ article when you posted a comment on it a few days ago. What an interesting look back at what was to become a new beginning for UT football. You converted a lot of nay-sayers with that post.

I think they should give Ash some looks as the QB in the Wildcat package. A few designed QB runs out of the shotgun early in a game could help to both calm his nerves and move the chains. Ash has very good straight line speed and we should take advantage. Hesitation is his bugaboo in the run game. I also think that letting him pass out of a shotgun look is worth a shot.

Felonious, agree. I think he’s that kind of player.

Wouldn’t be something if David Ash just comes out and woops some serious ass. I’d freakin love it.

I have been begging all yr to get Ash outside of the tackle box Only needs to read half the field. Look 1, Look 2, and Run.. If this is the plan on bowl day, I may have to kiss Jesus.

Pretty awesome how the Asset broke the Whaley to TE before Mack announced it today.

I hate that move on so many levels. Love to see what he can do at Tackle. Think it is a waste of that kids talent

codaxx, it doesn’t appear to be permanent.

Fine work, Jesus. This is a critical month. How many times have we seen bowl teams in college football come out and look much better in the bowl than they did all year? That momentum carries, and it could be huge for this young team going into next year.

I feel good about this team and this situation. I know our QB situation is not what we would like it to be, but it cant be any worse next year.

I know I must be late but what is it that Cobbs said

cool.. I have some weird man-love for that kid. I think he can be a 1st rnd guy.

Cobbs jumped D White’s ass about telling other recruits not to come to Texas. DG-B included.

Apparently they had bad blood before that though.

damn fingers..

*DB-G…

“the entitlement is out the window.”

Best part of the report hands down.

Yep. I just heard Mack on the radio confirming exactly what the asset said about using Whaley some at TE but that he is to remain primarily a DT.

Thanks for the report!

It will be interesting to see how multiple year scholarships change the attrition game. Its easy to kick a kid out now but with a 4 year deal it may be a little harder.

I agree with the idea that good kids who can’t play should be able to stay, not their fault we were wrong about ability. That said, a lot of these guys want to play and will move on anyway.

I am very proud of D Cobbs actions in dealing with a display the likes of which D White put on. Very proud … and D Cobbs did not even play his HS ball in this state!

I guess I don’t really understand the temporary move of Whaley to TE either, unless it is a sort of try out for next year (in which case I’m still not big on the idea).

Is there something specific to this game that lends itself to what Whaley does well as a TE?

Thanks as always for the report.

Whaley has flashed too much potential at DT to move to TE at this point. However, before this season I was a huge proponent of giving him a shot there. Based on what I saw in the Army All-Star Game, he looked like a natural catching the ball and turning upfield with it. I am really intrigued with this move for the bowl game and I will be definitely be paying attention to him when they trot him out on offense.

Our readers appreciate it and 99% are intelligent enough to understand that information changes.

Boy, that 1% sure is vocal though.

I’m fine with Whaley playing TE permanently if needed. We have way more quality at DL than TE. There aren’t any guys on the team that can function at TE both blocking and catching. Maybe McFarland, but they redshirted him. With such a big need at that position, they redshirted him. That tells me something. There are also no TEs in the incoming class, so even if McF works out we need another for depth. Hope Whaley can do it.

Again, Mack says Whaley is a DT. He will only provide a handful of plays at TE in addition to playing DT. Maybe ten snaps a game is what Mack said.

Whaley at TE might actually be somewhat effective. That’s a big body to bring down, especially if he has a running start. Like Jesus, I’d imagine its just a wrinkle, but could perhaps play big dividends for us.

Sounds like we’re just installing a package to take advantage of Whaley’s skills on offense while he remains at DT as his primary position. Not unlike using Roy Miller and Lamarr Houston in short yardage packages, although it sounds like Whaley will have a more interesting and creative role than just lead blocker. As long as it doesn’t take away significantly from his development as a DT, I think it’s great. It’ll be fun for him, and fun for us to watch, and at the end of the day, isn’t that the point?

Big picture – whether the posts are 100% accurate is not that important. They are accurate overall, and they are always enjoyable. Thanks for just a tremendous football season worth of posts. Criticize blogs all you want, but the talent and information if far better than the journalism in the print media.

@ mccoy12, you had it right the first time. Dorail Green-Beckham (DGB or DG-B)

Jesus, should we expect Whaley to play some on both sides of the ball in San Diego, or is it more of a one game position switch rather than an offensive wrinkle?

Shit, *Dorial. Not Dorail.

The biggest Longhorn mistake of 2011 was when we moved Ash from his designed packages to flooding him with the entire offense. We needed to keep the reads very simple just a little longer.

The disappointment of losing three of four at the end of the season obscured the progress made by the program. You hear the term “rebuilding year” thrown around about major programs, usually meaning working young players into the lineup in place of graduated starters.

The task facing our program this year was bigger and deeper than that. Not just new systems on both sides of the ball but a complete remake of the culture of the team. On that note, Bennie Wylie may have been the most crucial new hire of all. Except for OU and the 2nd half of the Baylor game, Texas was intense, physical and focused. Guys with questionable work ethic are being shown the door. Our recruiting philosophy is changing in needed ways including bringing in juco players to fill specific holes (OT, DT, possibly QB), going harder after big out of state talent, and refusing to settle for kids just because they will commit early.

There will be more disappointments but it seems clear that the trajectory of the program is a good one.

Great thoughts guys. Your contributions to these articles have been nails all season. All I can say is, thanks.

burntorangejuice and McCoy12, I hope you two are happy, your ineptitude at Internet spelling has no doubt cost us a commit from the 5 star point guard Daniel Beckham-Goranisevic.

Whaley playing TE is a great thing that I’ve been clamoring for forever. Given that he doesn’t play 100% of the snaps at either DT or TE, it will not be too exhausting for him. The obvious advantage of playing a 280 pound guy at TE is the improved blocking that is possible. Whaley also has speed and hands. Should be great in the red zone. Really big guys are always open if you throw to the side away from the defender. Wonderful news.

Glad to see that Ash is going to be rolling out more, another thing that I’ve been clamoring for forever. If the WR on the playside blocks the OLB and then rolls for a pass (hey, how about splitting out Whaley and letting him block the playside OLB?), that forces the CB to tackle big fast Ash by himself. Lots of punishment for the the OLB and the CB and probably some broken tackles/bodies. Nothing builds confidence like knocking the crap out of somebody.

Also glad that Harsin is focusing on simplifying Ash’s reads and trying to rebuild his confidence. Some commenters on this board thought that Ash getting overwhelmed and playing terribly in games was progress rather than destructive for Ash’s confidence.

and in live action they seem to be giving David more waggles and rollouts

It’s about time. For the life of me I couldn’t figure why we weren’t doing more of this with him against Mizzou and KSU. Move him away from the pressure, buy him some time to read and the recievers time to get open, simplify the number of reads, and finally give him a run option if he can’t find something open. Given his physical skills and mobility it seemed like an obvious way to deal with OL issues and to minimize some of DAs inexperience.

A change in attitude is a way good thing. And glad that some enthusiasm is back (need to wash that Baylor game out of my mind) and maybe end the year in a very good fashion.

One thing that sticks out to me: I have faith that most of the staff is working hard, working appropriately and with skill, working to recruit and improve. Just haven’t felt that way in a very long time. And given some of the noise last year and maybe some this year, maybe we will continue to improve the staff overall (truly hope none of the new guys choose to leave).

I’m enjoying the mental image of a 200 lb defensive back standing between the end zone and a 280-290 lb Whaley going full speed. That would also be fun and violent.

Whaley at TE even for a game is giving me wood. At 6-3, 280lbs. he’d be a load to bring down. This just goes to show you that the program has adopted a win now approach while exploring each and every option. Love it!

Attrition will certainly motivate the unattritted. There is nothing more exhilarating than being shot at and missed (Winston Churchill).

Any organization has to periodically get rid of the deadwood. I seriously doubt that Mack gets rid of anyone who is giving 100% all the time during practice, workouts, and games. Having said that, it is probably extremely easy to find reasons to cut people who are not performing well. Good life lesson that is best learned before you graduate.

@Crazyjoe

Forgive the mishap with DG-B’s name. I made a no no by not going and making sure first. Oh well. Shit happens, then you die.

BOJ -

FWIW, Brown was asked in a follow-up whether Whaley might play TE in the bowl game and just said ’we’re not there yet."

Jesus, thanks for this. Do you really think Brown is “misinformed” on the xfer/juco QB or are you just tweet-toying with whats-his-name?

Sorry to disagree Kafka, but I think is talents are much more valuable at DT. If it is a package of 5-10 plays then so be it. It is not that h cant succeed at TE, but the value of a good DT is so much more than a sold TE. This game does not matter, but next yr it is big. Plus Diaz likes to rotate his DL liberally. I think he has the most upside of any longhorn on the DL right now. How knows if he can ever get there, but he he has shown some flashed in is brief time at tackle. I think it will be very interesting to see how he develops with some serious coaching in the off-season

CrazyJoe,

I do apologize. You win some and you lose some. Let the record show, I wasn’t trying to be a smart ass or know it all. That being said, congrats to you, CrazyJoe, for being highly talented with smart assery. I mean that in a nice way. I laughed.

Thanks for the tidbit, tx2step. I shall proceed post haste to the twitterverse.

Also, I realize I need to do better with consolidating my comments. It’s a growth area I’m working on. Baby steps.

So, were punches actually thrown by Cobb on Darius White? Or, was it just verbal?

I never thought much of White and I hoped I was wrong just this once.

McCoy and boj, if you want to see some iPhone-specific internet posting fail, I had a great one the other day on this site. It was like I was sending Bulgarian spam or something.

Thanks for the post, JS.

Can’t help but think that Ash’s psyche grows to match his physical ability with another year of maturing in the offense AND possibly the deepest backfield in the nation (not to mention a healthy Shipley). The bowl game should be a marked improvement for him as well w/all hands on deck, sans Fozzy.

I pity the Safety, especially CB, having to encounter a rumblin’ Whaley with a full head of steam.

Kool-Aid, Kool-Aid tastes great, Kool-Aid, Kool-Aid can’t wait! (I’m kinda old—that’s my post General Sarnoff thing)

The bowl game practice this year is critical. We have new coaches across the board and this is the first extended practice time after seeing live game reps.

We were headed for a potentially above the curve season that got derailed by our entire RB corps getting nuked from space.

The process is coming along very nicely to me. Give me the very best RB corps in college football next year plus a full offseason in the new coaching regime and our QBs are going to look a lot better.

Think our D will just get saltier as time goes by.

I’ve mislaid my Sekrit Agent Orange (Burnt) Dekoder Ring, so I haven’t been able to translate the message in the Secret Email that identifies The Asset. Will there be an ID for Herr Asset, sooner or later?

Really liking Cobb. One of the best players out of the State Of Okalahoma makes really sweet.

Something tells me that Ash will kick some butt in the game. Thus carry over to the off season and into the 2012 season. If this theory proves true. I can be happy with Ash as QB for another 2-3 years with Brewer taking a redshirt and getting his feet wet as a sophomore. Hint: Expectations is a BCS championship in 2013-2014. BCS bowl game in 2012.

Harsin knows Ash is the guy. Have to get Mack Brown to release the reigns of his attachment to McCoy. Give Ash the reps. Just my opinion

“I never thought much of White and I hoped I was wrong just this once.”

I was in the same boat. The whole recruiting drama around the name tag for his buddy rubbed me the wrong way (as did all of the Mack bashing from the recruitniks). If he couldn’t get over a relatively small “slight” to one of his buddies (who we weren’t even recruiting), then how was he going to handle adversity at a big time program. We found our answer.

“I pity the Safety, especially CB, having to encounter a rumblin’ Whaley with a full head of steam.”

AJ White says “Hi!”

Give Ash a year in the system with an extensive off season and Texas may have a QB that can manage the game. A QB with Brown, Bergeron and Gray. Shame we seem to searching for a TE. Hope we find one soon.

Whaley may get some TE run in this game

I’ve been hoping to see this since last spring. I started feeling it when Pöhlmann started getting snaps at TE, and it got positively electrified when Luke caught his first TD.

jesus,

Thanks for all you do. I’m assuming we will be going with McCoy, Ash, and the two freshmen. Is this correct?

Also, any progress reports from our young DB’s and LB’s?

[Whaley at TE:] Maybe ten snaps a game is what Mack said.

That’s ten snaps with a BIG mofo at TE who can block AND catch… and… uhhh, oh yeah… run a little bit, too. If he works out really well, give him more of it. It can’t hurt to give it a bowlgame shot.

Here is some news on Mario Edward thoughts about his Texas visit.

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/sports/stories/DRC_Ryan-Edwards_1213.332cad428.html

Normally, I would be uninterested in two 7-5 teams in a bowl, and only barely interested even if one is Texas.
In this case, however, the extra practices with the changes, the attitude, the determination, etc have made for a very interesting setup. I WANT to see what this team can do with a month to get healthy and hungry and see how it carries over to next year.

Good to see the coaches mixing things up again. Whaley is a DT pure and simple…he has found his calling on the field if you ask me. Using him at TE will only further his versatility and probably make him look even better in the eyes of scouts. Glad Whaley has found a way to contribute and taken it to heart.

Ash doing better eases a lot of our concerns over his mental state. Good to see him doing well again (even if in basic schemes). Production is production so it is a good sign. Wonder how this is playing in the minds of the coaches regarding a JUCO or transfer QB?

Hopefully we can get everyone healthy and have a good showing in the bowl game. If we do well, that is a good sign carrying over into the next year! Hook ’Em gentlemen!

Well it’s nice to see the team practicing so well now that we concluded another losing season in conference. Would have been nice if they brought all that energy in the second half against Baylor. It’s really gonna suck if Whaley gets an Irby type injury with this rediculous experiment in the Bilgewater Holiday Bowl.

Sorry, I’m in a bad mood. Hook ’Em.

Why don’t we look at at JUCO TEs??? Seems a good JUCO TE would be an upgrade over anything we have. I’m sure Griffin Gilbert wouldn’t come here in a million years, but we made a mistake not offering him. Kid is ridiculously big and moves very well. Will easily go 6-6 265 in two years and he outruns most 4A CBs.

Thanks for the reports JS. I still have some lingering questions about a couple of our game plans, but overall I, too, am happier about the direction and future of the program than I have been in 4-5 years. There are still some problems that won’t go away as long as Mack is here, but at least it’s much better than it’s been.

Groundhog, yep. RB’s along with McCoy and Ash. We still have about 12 practices to go so things could change, but that’s what it looks like now. I’ll keep y’all posted.

By the way, Q&A tomorrow on the ’Cosm. Be there bright and early at 8. Will try to make this one the best one yet.

Hook ’Em

I hope Irby stays close to the program in some fashion. Perhaps a Grad Assistance to Harsin.

If Ash played this whole game and went about 14-22 for 200 and no picks I would feel a whole lot better during the long off season. It would sure help recruiting also.

Sorry, I should have made myself clearer. I was talking about the QB situation. Two currents and two incoming frosh QB’s for spring and fall ball?

It certainly wasn’t progress in the sense that it made Ash feel better about his game. But it may well have been progress in the sense that it made him a better QB.

When your limitations are exposed, you’re forced to acknowledge and improve on them… or else simply live in some sort of weird denial, where your confidence has no connection to the level of your skills.

There is, or so it seems, another QB playing for Texas who seems to fall under that heading.

But Ash strikes me as a more realistic guy than that. My guess is that he said to himself quite early on “I’m a true freshman QB playing behind a sketchy OL with one reliable target. This situation isn’t gonna pan out if our running game falls apart.”

So when that, in fact, happened, I doubt he was as crushed psychologically as some seem to believe. He must’ve seen it coming. And if he wondered whether McCoy would have performed better or worse, Baylor must’ve answered that question for him, too.

So true Louis
If someone would have told Brown or Harsin in August this year that Ash would be the starting QB this year would have been hilarious.

Now we can give him the reps, take away the McCoy behind the shoulder (not good for confidence) and a solid offseason. I personally feel that he would have remained the starter if Brown, Bergeron and Shipley would have been healthy.

A switch in subject. With all the coaching changes last year, Bruce Chambers was not nudged out? I’ve gone back and looked all the TE prospects that were recruited. And none of them have panned out. We have lots of bodies, and yet reduced to converting a lineman and former running back/current-DT into a TE.

We talk about lazy assessments with RB and WR and even QB, yet nothing about really lousy TE recruiting?

Dad gum it, what a great idea, roll Ash out. It cuts the field in half and allows more time to read half the field. All it takes is a couple of runs if no ones open to cause the db’s to freeze for a moment . I’m just disappointed that wasn’t used earlier in the season. It sure helped VY out in his learning curve. I guess Harsin is on a learning curve too. Cant wait to see the new, old look in the passing game. Ash looks like he was made for it.

Ive enjoyed reading your asset and cigar reports all season. Thanks Shuttlesworth and Merry Christmas.

Thanks for the update, Jesus & Asset. The Kool-aid had a nice flavor too.

Thor, I think the TE position was going strong until Irby got injured and it sort of threw everything off track.

Irby got hurt a long time ago.

Thanks for the report….lots of kool aid and sunshine….lots. So how many turnovers do we allow from Ash, before we are back to McCoy? Seriously. reports on Ash’s confidence and how good he looks (in practice) are all we have heard all year.
Until he actually shows something during a game, I just can’t jump on the bandwagon.

I hope all these reports come true, but until I see it, I cannot get on the bandwagon.

The hard hitting practices are what we have been doing in bowl preparation for close to 10 years. Mack discussed bowl prep. with Barry Alvarez, Bobby Bowden, etc. and believes in physical practices early and slowly tapering off as the game nears.

Thanks for the info. I am encouraged by most of it. However, I recall the The Asset went on and on about Ash earlier in the year. So, color me skeptical. Perhaps you need a new asset, or at least one that gets audited by someone other than Arthur Andersen. Just sayin.

Fun and Violent should be on our gay wristlets next year.

The Ash roll out sets up a lot of plays too: sprint draw, reverse, stop short and pass, very short dump pass at end of roll out, throw back screen pass after rolling out a few steps, and the deep cross field pass after rolling out. As was mentioned previously, the physicality of the roll out play should help Ash.

Even if a transfer QB was being contemplated, Mack would probably down play it until after the bowl game to keep from disturbing the young QBs.

Did we hire Saban and it’s being kept under wraps until Jan 10? Sounds like it. Well now I feel hopeful again that we’ll win a conference championship within the next two years.

Just saw this from Beergut

“With the hiring of Charlie Weis at Kansas, Florida is now without an offensive coordinator. After a brief period where Mike Shula appeared to be a possible candidate, I’m now hearing Greg Davis’ name being mentioned. On the positive side, Davis does have a connection to Will Muschamp, having worked with him in Austin. I’d think after going against his offense in practice, though, he’d be looking for a more diverse scheme. "

If Muschamp hires Davis it will fly in the face of everything we heard about the locker room dissent among the coaches last year. I will be shocked. So I really doubt it.

I can’t wait for this game. Partially because I’ll actually be able to watch it with some fellow Longhorn fans – my family. It’ll be the first time I haven’t watched a UT game alone or with non-Texas fans since 2005. Woo-hoo!!!

So, win the bowl. Wrap up the recruiting class with Edwards and DGB. Watch OU implode. Merry Christmas!!!

A quote that struck me from the press conference transcript:

“They’re playing their video games there in the hotel and the next day you’ve got Sea World and the next day there’s a luncheon. If you’re not careful, you practice hard in the morning and you stay on your feet all afternoon and you’re exhausted by Bowl time, especially with a team that’s young.”

Was our conditioning during the last era of S&C coaching so bad that the guys would get worn out from going to the zoo and Sea World? If so, why the hell were they taking them to the zoo and sea world. Maybe they should have been going for a morning group run followed by group stretches in a park before they let them go on to video games and nap time.

Call of Duty + Shamu is an intensive afternoon brah. A nice little nappy nap is necessary and sufficient for continued success.

What flavor of Kool-Aid are you dranking? “Orange!”

Good update JS & Asset. What’s the word with the young gunz at the Safety spot? Y2k & Sherroid getting some run in the bowl game? Especially, with Gideon with a club hand and C. Scott out.

Any further word on “when” Machete is going to announce his return? The signing of KV2 was a package deal IMO.

earmuffs – Good point. I suspect the performance of Ash in the Holiday bowl will be a humongous motivator for DGB’s recruitment – one way or another!

“drank” requires “arnj” rather than “orange”…

I guess video games have become more physically demanding in the last twelve years since I stopped playing them. They must be playing the old school track and field game on original Nintendo where you have to get on your knees and use your hands to smack the mat buttons really fast to win.

Saint Darrell said that angry people win football games. Who’s angrier, us or Cal?

All hail the great Demarco Cobbs, just when you are sure nothing good comes from Oklahoma the “chosen one” elevates his game!

Mack says they work out hard in the morning and then staying on their feet deadens their legs.

But I don’t want to poop on the sarcasm party because it’s pretty funny.

@ Tex Long – Maybe where you’re from…Around my way (SoCal, early 80’s) the operative answer was Red, purple, and Orange…So there! LOL

As long as Mack is still steering the ship we have no fear. We better make room in the trophy case.

If they are playing the kinnect-then games can be tiring.

Also, if my memory serves me correctly, the zoo has a lot of elevation changes, so it’s not exactly a walk in the park.

I’m pretty tired on vacation after walking around an amusement park with friends with all the excitement, adrenaline, etc. There’s a lot of mental fatigue in that.

Why do I feel like I missed the DeMarco Cobbs-Darius White exchange?

seems that dw bad-mouthed Texas to DGB, possibly others. May have happened at KSU when recruits were visiting. May have happened again Banquet timish. Cobbs was not pleased, especially given White’s apparent lack of effort in games as well as practice, and offered to kick his ass up between his ears. Cooler heads prevailed abd prevented bloodshed. White decided to leave before he has to unbutton his collar to take a shit. Apparent-lee.

This site seems to be a big Ash booster. Pardon me for not going to the party, but I just don’t see much in him as a QB. Confidence was Gilbert’s problem and he had much better skills than Ash. Secondly the college games seems to be far to fast for Ash and 3) he does not see the field very well.
I don’t think Ash will ever make it in college as a QB. May make it as tight end or possibly even on defense, he does seem to be a tough kid.

Jesus,

Any chance of a Practice report from over the weekend, any time soon? I’m interested in hearing the progression the QB’s are making.